Thumper build

Pot still design and discussion

Thumper build

Postby Beerswimmer » Sat Aug 03, 2019 1:51 pm

Finally getting around to building my thumper after purchasing the hardware months ago. I give full credit to someone on here, can't remember who, for the design idea :handgestures-thumbupleft: It'll be 2 kegs, with 2" tubing, but reducing to 1" for the thumper input spear. Triclamp fitting all around so it'll be modular. I got everything cut, cut again, and test fit. I'll have a longer spear of course. Now I just need to solder it up with triclamp fittings.

Pics:
https://imgur.com/a/rWJG1b9
Last edited by Beerswimmer on Sat Aug 03, 2019 1:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Thumper build

Postby bluc » Sat Aug 03, 2019 3:30 pm

Sweet..will make stripping corn.pudding heaps easier how big is opening into your thumper and are you putting a pressure release valve of some type on boiler..pot thumper is a closed system and bit more dangerous but danger can be mitagated with couple simple steps. A pressure release valve on boiler so it cant build pressure and always break the connection between pot and thumper after use otherwise you can crush your boiler with the formed vacuum.. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Thumper build

Postby Beerswimmer » Sat Aug 03, 2019 9:49 pm

It's a regular keg opening right now, 2 inches. Basic kegs. Eventually I'd like to install fancy stuff like drains, fill ports with windows, and 12 inch fill ports, but that's way down my list of things to do. I'd probably get a larger boiler before doing any of that TBH.

No, no pressure relief valve. I plan on opening a triclamp as soon as I kill the heat to avoid any vacuuming.
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Re: Thumper build

Postby Beerswimmer » Mon Aug 05, 2019 7:18 am

Got it soldered, well for the first time.....going to leak check it tonight. And wouldn't you know, I'm one triclamp short :angry-banghead:

Test fit pics:
https://imgur.com/a/DiwYcbz
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Re: Thumper build

Postby Beerswimmer » Mon Aug 05, 2019 7:30 am

Will drill some holes in the bottom of the spear when I'm done finding, and hopefully fixing, all of the leaks.
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Re: Thumper build

Postby scythe » Tue Aug 06, 2019 7:25 pm

Consider insulating the horizontal transfer pipe and having a very slight fall back towards the boiler to capture any drips that form on their way to the thumper.
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Re: Thumper build

Postby Beerswimmer » Wed Aug 07, 2019 9:52 am

Why would I want to catch any drips and have them go back into the boiler? Wouldn't I want every drip to go to the thumper? :think:
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Re: Thumper build

Postby Beerswimmer » Wed Aug 07, 2019 12:25 pm

Leak check/ cleaning run is a success :handgestures-thumbupleft: Only 2 minor pinholes, but not at the critical thumper connection. I drilled 12 holes in the bottom of the spear before I started and it made a tinny rattling sound as the thumper started working. Once at temp it was silent. Now to give it a quick citric dip, and then a sac run of some cheap UJSSM :smile:
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Re: Thumper build

Postby bluc » Wed Aug 07, 2019 12:31 pm

Awesome :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: Thumper build

Postby Beerswimmer » Wed Aug 07, 2019 1:05 pm

20190806_210640.jpg


Here's a pic
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Re: Thumper build

Postby scythe » Fri Aug 09, 2019 4:07 am

Tilted back towards the boiler:
In case you have a puke,
The only thing that should condense on the joining pipe will be things with a higher boiling point than ethanol (water, fusel oils etc) and do you really want them in your thumper?
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Re: Thumper build

Postby hillzabilly » Fri Aug 09, 2019 9:50 am

Have a snoop at https://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=36041 .cheers hillzabilly ;-)
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Re: Thumper build

Postby Beerswimmer » Sun Aug 25, 2019 4:35 pm

First strip run complete. It took 35mins to hear the thumper, 45mins more before a solid stream. Not too bad! The shotgun condensor can knock down all vapor at full flame, so I'm doing better than I expected. The run took 4:15-ish and produced around 25 liters of low wines from 94.6 liters of wash.
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Re: Thumper build

Postby RC Al » Sat Aug 31, 2019 5:21 pm

Mate what size are your kegs? 15 us gallons? thats 56.7 litres - your pushing the friendship on how far your filling both of them if you filled to 94.6 litres, your thumper must have been pretty full at the end of the run? how much did you put in each at the start?
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Re: Thumper build

Postby Beerswimmer » Tue Sep 10, 2019 11:52 am

Yeah, 15 gallons. 12.5 of around 10% was in each. After the run the boiler had 3 gallons left, and the thumper had 13 gallons. No puking.
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Re: Thumper build

Postby Beerswimmer » Fri Sep 13, 2019 12:11 pm

Just hitting the hearts on the first spirit run, coming out @ 83%. The strongest booze I've ever made. I'm hoping after mixing cuts it ends up around 70 something %.
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